The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-18
THE FISHERIES QUESTION
DISCUSSED IN THE CANADIAN
HOUSE OF COMNONS.
II Was Learned That the Canada ms
Had Gone Far Enough In
the Natter.

OTTAWA, ONT, June IA brief
discussion took place in the House Of
Commons this afternoon over the fish.
cries question, arising out Of the ap.
preparation for the protection tervice.
Mr.. Ellis, OF st. john, said 1t was time
the House came down to q common
sense view Of this question. Looking
ct the correspondence it ives evident
thst the British Government felt that
the Canadian Government had gone
far enough. 1t was utterly absurd to
stand upon treaty passed seventy
years ago, which excluded Americans
from purchasing bait or cial when
they wanted it. The governmeutought
to take the House into its confidence
and state the exact position OF affairs.
Sir John Macdonald said: This is q
matter OF great interest. We stood on
the convention OF 1918. We staid and
we held to II, that the change of years
and commercial treaties between Eng.
land and the United States did not
and could not in any way in the most
remote, degree affect the terms OF the
convention OF 1918. That convention
was made with due deliberation. 1t
was q matter of mutual concession.
Sir John continued by saying the
United States had recognized its ex.
istence in 1854 aud 1871 by the terms
of the treaty Of Washington. Even
putting this aside, Canada was an in
dependent government with territorial
jurisdiction over three miles OF
water on Its coasts. He continued:
There are only two questions on which
there may be any difference OF opinion
or contention. The first is the head
land question. We adhere to the
position taken by the British Govern
ment from the time of Lord Bathurst
until now, that the three mile limit is
reckoned from line drawn from
headland to headland, and not from
sinuosities Of the coast. [Oheers.1 1
believe that all the constitutional
writers OF the United States in deal
ing with this question in the abstract
agree with us.
Mr.. Mills-Aud the courtep
Sir John-And the courts; there is
little doubt about that.
Mr.. Mitchell - Then the several
States maintain the same thing, as,
for instance, in the case Of the Onesa.
peake bay and Delaware bay7
Sir John-The several SSstcs con-
tend thst they have sovereign rights
within these bays.
The other question Sir John said
was that OF bait. The Canadian Gov
eminent held that a fishing vessel
was one thing and a trading vessel
another, aud that they could not
change their characters by securing
trading permits from American Gus
toms collectors. He was convinced
that the government was right in this
matter. He continued: l am glad to
say that Her Maiesty's' Government
has fully sustained us. There has
not been the slightest EXPRESSION of
disinciination to sustain theiegal lights
of Canada. Meanwhile, Correspond
enCe has been going on which we
are duly informed. do not think q
single step has been taken or
will be taken by Her Males US
representatives at Washington with.
ont consultation and conference with
the Canadian Government, and, / say
further, without our assent. l think
it would not be we'll that speak fur
Their. believe that the Government
OF the United States are friendly in
the best sense of the word A demo.
cratic government OF that kind, de.
pendent very much every four years
at all events on the popular voice, is
pledged to take course perhaps not
80 direct as that OF govern
ment otherwise constituted. But
l believe that the government OF |
President Cleveland is extreme
ly friendly to Canada, extremely
friendly to extend commercial rela-
tions with Canada, and can say that
the Canadian Government is doing all
1t can to foster that feeling, and to an
ticipate the time when we may hope
there will be enlarged commercial re-
lations between Canada aud the
United States. loud cheers.)
The appropriation of $125,000 was
then passed and the diecussion drop
ped.